Chapter 95: Entering the Red Room

Seeing Liu Qingqing, Zhang Hao immediately launched an attack on her together with the Ghost Bride.

However, what happened next left Zhang Hao stunned.

Just as Zhang Hao had just grabbed Liu Qingqing, the Supernatural power in his body that belongs to the Ghost Seeking Kin's female special attack activated, and Liu Qingqing immediately collapsed.

"So weak?"

Zhang Hao was a bit surprised; from the earlier scene where Liu Qingqing attacked Zhou Deng, she shouldn't have been so weak.

But Zhang Hao quickly recovered.

Indeed, Liu Qingqing's current condition is special, somewhere between the living and the dead.

Perhaps after the Red Room opens, Zhang Youhong will once again control her body to revive her.

The current Liu Qingqing, being dead, is not much different since a Fierce Ghost inside the body is controlling it.

"Shall we use this opportunity to lock her inside the Ghost Painting?"

Once the thought crossed Zhang Hao's mind, he could no longer suppress it.

In the dark corridor, sheets of ash-like burnt paper fell, quickly covering Liu Qingqing.

Strangely, no matter how Zhang Hao used the Ghost Domain, Liu Qingqing was as if nailed by a nail inside this Ghost's Zhang Dong's Ghost Residence's Interior, unable to move a fraction.

It seems that perhaps Zhang Youhong made some arrangements when Liu Qingqing crawled out of the grave.

"Fine, since that's the case, just keep suppressing her, ensuring she can't enter the Red Room before me."

Zhang Hao seized Liu Qingqing's corpse and dragged her deeper into the corridor.

Strangely, the Ghost Domain couldn't take Liu Qingqing away, yet Zhang Hao could drag her corpse away without any obstacle.

Liu Qingqing's skin scraped the ground, leaving a long bloodstain.

The worn-away skin revealed what lay beneath; under Liu Qingqing's skin was not flesh but a piece of wood.

At this moment, Liu Qingqing was clearly a Wooden Puppet wrapped in Human Skin, her internal flesh and bones having long been replaced by the puppet.

Dragging Liu Qingqing to a room, Zhang Hao tossed her inside, then quietly stood at the doorway waiting.

This corridor was bottomless, its end unseen; even Zhang Hao dared not go further.

Perhaps deep within the corridor, some even more terrifying, unsolvable Fierce Ghosts are imprisoned, even Fierce Ghosts of the Seven Elders level being locked deep is not impossible.

While Zhang Hao suppressed Liu Qingqing, Yang Jian and others in the main hall also noticed something.

They opened the lid of that Coffin, and the old man inside strangely achieved Balance with the Fierce Ghosts in the main hall.

Terrifying, incomprehensible; looking at the balanced main hall, Yang Jian and the others felt this thought rise in their hearts.

It's truly incomprehensible; the Ghosts in the main hall must number dozens now, and with those in the corridors and skylight Ghosts, probably not less than a hundred.

Moreover, each of these Fierce Ghosts is not a simple type; once they appear in the world they would cause massive impact.

Although these Ghosts have not yet revived to the most terrifying, unsolvable state, the old man's corpse is likewise not fully revived at this moment.

Yet under these circumstances, the old man's corpse could still achieve Balance with so many Ghosts; it's hard to imagine how terrifying he was in life.

"The dangers of the Ghost's Zhang Dong's Ghost Residence's Interior are more complex than expected; even though I've attained a temporary Balance, that Balance will eventually be broken."

At that moment, a relieved Yang Jian turned his head to glance at the strange old man seated inside the Coffin.

The old man's aged face showed a fierce expression, gloomy and terrifying, as if about to awaken as a Fierce Ghost.

But in the end, the old man still did not revive.

After all, it is still the Fourth Day, three days away from the First Seven; if the old man revived on the Fourth Day, no one could stay here any longer.

"It should be safe now, right?" Suddenly, at this moment Zhou Deng came over and spoke.

His voice was deep and heavy, with a strong accent, sounding as if two people were speaking in unison, but the other voice was terrifying, making one's hair stand on end.

He still dared to speak? Da Qiang looked at him, surprised, because the man named Zhou Deng was extremely bold; no one knows who gave him such courage.

One should know that among these Fierce Ghosts, some will trigger the Killing Rule just by speaking.

However, after Zhou Deng spoke, nothing abnormal occurred.

Yang Jian gave him a glance and said, "Not yet; the vast majority of Ghosts have halted, but a few Ghosts can still act."

"Moreover, Fierce Ghosts that can act in this environment will be extraordinarily terrifying; you probably know the reason yourself."

Zhou Deng nodded, "Ghosts that cannot be suppressed in this situation must be of a very high terror level, like the Red and White Double Evil tier; being targeted by them likely means death."

"This Balance probably won't last long; the Fourth Day has just begun. Do you have any good plan? If not, I'll just keep pretending to be dead," Zhou Deng said again. "As long as you don't act recklessly, that's fine; I have something I need you to help with," Yang Jian replied.

"We're just colleagues, Commander Yang, go ahead," Zhou Deng said.

Yang Jian glanced and said, "Stay here and keep an eye on the situation; if anything abnormal happens, call me. I have some personal matters to attend to."

"You previously told me not to act recklessly," Zhou Deng said, his eyes strange.

Yang Jian said, "I'm different from you; I act with restraint. I only want to seize Supernatural Artifacts. It seems you're addicted to that Human Skin Mask you picked up."

"Supernatural Artifacts carry a strong cursed nature, essentially equivalent to a Fierce Ghost; possessing too many is no good, you'll eventually be killed."

"When I die, Commander Yang, remember to offer an Incense Stick for me," Zhou Deng smiled lightly and said.

He seemed to have long cast life and death aside, acting without any hesitation.

"Alright, I will," Yang Jian nodded.

He then set into action.

He held a cracked Long Spear and tried to leave the main hall along the left wall.

But the path ahead was sealed by strange silhouettes, leaving essentially no passage, yet this did not trouble Yang Jian.

He lifted his foot and stepped onto the wall.

He walked on the wall in a manner that defied common sense.

Because Yang Jian is now a Ghost Shadow, his body is merely a shell inhabited by Ghost Power; theoretically he could swap into another's body and survive, though he would lose the Ghost Hand and Ghost Eye.

He does not want to do that.

Because it would be a self-degrading weakening with no real purpose.

"It's time to open that room; while the supernatural is suppressed, it's a perfect opportunity for me," Yang Jian thought to himself.

Even if the room is dangerous, the old man in the Coffin will suppress it, which serves as protection for me.

And if there truly is a Ghost in that room, I don't mind having another one under the current circumstances.

The others watched Yang Jian walk away along the wall, all puzzled.

To act now? It's completely opposite to his previous caution, a reversal of his usual behavior.

Although the Ghosts in the main hall are numerous, the corridor is empty, shrouded only in dimness, with no figure lingering.

He leapt, jumped down from the wall, and landed before a locked wooden door.

The wooden door was tightly shut, bearing several bullet holes, which Zhou Deng had shot into it on the first day arriving at the Ghostly Mansion.

Blood seeped from the bullet holes, staining half of the door red, looking quite distinctive.

"The Ghost Cabinet's transaction task is complete; I recall the Ghost Cabinet only required me to unlock this door, with no other demands."

Yang Jian recalled the transaction details.

He confirmed it was correct.

He produced an old bronze key.

The key's design is ancient, in the Republic Era style, not a modern product.

Yang Jian acted decisively, immediately thrusting the key into the bronze lock on the wooden door.

As expected.

The lock matched the key; with a gentle turn, a Click! was heard.

The lock on the wooden door opened.

The Ghost Cabinet's transaction task is complete.

Yang Jian paused, cautiously observing his surroundings, and found everything normal, with no terrifying consequences from unlocking the bronze lock.

He let out a slight sigh of relief.

He removed the bronze lock and put it away.

He thought the bronze lock must be a Supernatural Artifact; otherwise, how could it lock an ordinary wooden door in such a place?

The bronze lock was gone.

Creak!

The wooden door emitted a rubbing sound and slowly opened a crack.

Yang Jian's eyelid twitched, sensing something odd. From the opened crack came Hong Bai Shuang Sha-colored light, as if a scarlet expanse, like entering another world.

Ghost domain? That thought instantly popped into his mind.

The faintly red light shone out from the room, casting a Hong Bai Shuang Sha-colored hue over the dim corridor.

"Should I just leave, ignore it, or take a risk and go in to see?" Yang Jian remained calm, contemplating and judging.

He harbored reservations.

He feared this room would disrupt the Balance of the Fourth Day Ghost's Zhang Dong's Ghost Residence's Interior.

Yet the Ghost Cabinet's transaction details piqued his curiosity.

Why must this room be opened?

Is something meant to be released?

And what could be inside this room? All the mysteries continuously stirred Yang Jian's curiosity.

He wanted to uncover the secret closely tied to the Ghost Cabinet, learn the past, explore the truth of the supernatural, and finally find a way to survive.

Yet at that moment, Yang Jian suddenly heard Footsteps.

One Ghost, no, not one, two Ghosts, were now walking toward this side.

Yang Jian turned his head; a White Evil dressed in Funeral Clothes was leading a bride in a Wedding Dress toward this direction.

"Red and White Double Evil? They've set their sights on me?"

Yang Jian noticed the Red and White Double Evil approaching and immediately Ghost's Retreated several steps.

However, he soon realized the Red and White Double Evil's target was not himself but that Hong Bai Shuang Sha-colored room.

"Has this object's purpose always been this Hong Bai Shuang Sha-colored room? No wonder—I said a Ghost with intelligence roaming this Ghostly Mansion hasn't caused us any trouble."

Watching it head straight toward the Hong Bai Shuang Sha-colored room, it paid no heed to its own Red and White Double Evil.

Even if Yang Jian lacked more information, preventing him from deducing a Ghost's true intent, he still reacted.

This Ghost is using him to open the room; the Red and White Double Evil appearing here likely seeks to enter the Hong Bai Shuang Sha-colored room while the old man is dead.

After the old man's death, he could balance dozens to hundreds of Fierce Ghosts—truly terrifying.

Whether before or after the old man's death, the Red and White Double Evil could never have a chance to enter the Ghost's Zhang Dong's Ghost Residence's Interior.

The old man is dead now, and he brought the key to the Hong Bai Shuang Sha-colored room; the Red and White Double Evil are exploiting this, letting him feel safe after the first few days, then relaxing vigilance to open the Hong Bai Shuang Sha-colored room.

"Hmm? Speaking of it, the first Photo the Ghost Cabinet gave me was to pinpoint the Ghost bride's location."

"Looking at it, this bride is truly eerie."

Yang Jian watched the Red and White Double Evil walk into the Hong Bai Shuang Sha-colored room and immediately abandoned the thought of entering to investigate.

He was curious, but not to the point of losing his mind.

Facing the Red and White Double Evil head‑on, only a madman would do that.

It would be hard for all the captains at Headquarters together to handle the Red and White Double Evil; at best they could only ensure self‑preservation.

After all, a Fierce Ghost with intelligence has such bizarre logic; Yang Jian had witnessed it last time.

Zhang Hao did not notice Yang Jian's myriad thoughts.

After the Hong Bai Shuang Sha-colored room was opened, it had already captured all of his and the Ghost bride's attention.

Pushing open that Hong Bai Shuang Sha-colored big door, a Hong Bai Shuang Sha-colored room appeared before his eyes.

The walls are brushed with Hong Bai Shuang Sha lacquer, the Ground has Hong Bai Shuang Sha Floor, the ceiling hangs Hong Bai Shuang Sha banners, and even inside hangs Hong Bai Shuang Sha Lanterns.

It is dressed like a Wedding Room, as if a wedding were being held.

"No bed," Zhang Hao looked toward the center of the room.

There should have been a Red Canopy Bed there, but now it is empty, as if it had been moved away.

"Looks like I'll still have to go to Dachuan City Room 301 later; that old man, I'm afraid with my and the Ghost Bride's current Terror Level, he'll still be hard to handle."

Half a Spiritual Bus, plus Ghost Blood, plus Ghost Lake, and also the assorted Fierce Ghosts inside Yang Jian's body, only then can he reach the Seven Elders level.

Even just the Spiritual Bus alone can inexorably suppress thirty‑six Fierce Ghosts that board the Spiritual Bus.

Even a later‑stage captain who has mastered several ghosts will still be treated as a single ghost and suppressed on the Spiritual Bus.

By this calculation, even a half Spiritual Bus, whose Terror Level is less than half that of a full Spiritual Bus, can probably still suppress at least fifteen Fierce Ghosts.

And there's Ghost Lake; this thing is also immersed with countless Fierce Ghosts.

Thus, adding Ghost Eye and Ghost Blood is also required to reach the Seven Elders level.

Zhang Hao stared at the empty space in the center of the room for a long time before shifting his gaze elsewhere.

Then he noticed that the room was missing a piece of furniture; a spot was also empty, and the vacant area would be suitable for placing a Ghost Cabinet.

He saw a Hong Bai Shuang Sha coat rack, empty and seemingly missing a piece of clothing.

He saw a dressing table lacking some makeup tools, and even missing a mirror.

He also saw a Hong Bai Shuang Sha table, but there was no Ghost Stool beside it, seemingly missing a Hong Bai Shuang Sha Ghost Stool.

On the table sat a bronze Candle Stand, but it was empty, lacking a Candle.

In the deep part of the room, opposite the doorway corner, there was an easel, perhaps used to hold ghost paintings.

Everything is incomplete.

It makes this room become incomplete.

"Red Bed, Ghost Cabinet, Red Stool, Ghost Makeup, Ghost Mirror, Ghost Scissors—what's missing from the coat rack, a Wedding Dress? Or that Cheongsam?"

Zhang Hao thought of the Hong Bai Shuang Sha Cheongsam that Liu Qingqing was wearing.

Although the Ghost Bride and Zhang Youhong are two different Republic Era Ghost Tamers, that doesn't matter; the clothes on them might both be Puzzle pieces of the Red Room.

After all, no one stipulated that there could be only one piece of clothing on the coat rack.

Moreover, it's normal for one piece to be worn by the bride and another to be placed on the coat rack.

If it's just a Wedding Dress, it wouldn't make sense for the bride to go without clothing, right? Hang the dress on the coat rack.

Perhaps the Wedding Dress on the Ghost Bride and the Cheongsam on Liu Qingqing both originated from this Red Room.

After all, Ghost Makeup created Ah Hong as a Ghost Tamer, the Red Wedding Dress created the Ghost Bride's existence, and the Ghost Cabinet behind was also wielded as a Puzzle by a Wish Ghost.

From this perspective, it's understandable that the two Republic Era Ghost Tamers who obtained the Wedding Dress and the Cheongsam each grew to a powerful level.

They are all Puzzle pieces of the Red Room, Fierce Ghosts that walked out of the Red Room, yet they are more than just Puzzle pieces of the Red Room.

Of course, for now, these are still only Zhang Hao's conjectures, not yet provable.

"Also, the Candle Stand couldn't be missing a Ghost Candle, since a Ghost Candle is a single‑use Supernatural Artifact."

"Since this Red Room is a ghost, it should require some continuously usable Supernatural Artifact, namely a Candle made from a genuine Fierce Ghost."

"Speaking of which, in the original work, the island nation seems to have a wardrobe; perhaps we can find time to check it out."

Although Zhang Hao isn't sure whether that wardrobe in the island nation is a Puzzle, as long as it's possible he won't let it slip.

"Fine, let's set these aside for now."

Zhang Hao looked up, took out the Ghost Mirror and Ghost Scissors, and placed the Ghost Mirror on the dressing table as a makeup mirror.

Then he opened the drawer of the dressing table in the room and put a rust‑stained pair of scissors into the drawer.

Not sure if it's an illusion, but since Zhang Hao is a ghost, presumably no illusion can occur.

He can feel that after placing the Ghost Mirror and Ghost Scissors in the Red Room, the lingering red light in the room became a few shades brighter.

"Indeed, this Red Room is beginning to grow stronger."

Zhang Hao looked around; after he and the Ghost Bride entered the Red Room, the red light inside was gradually brightening at a slow, barely perceptible rate.

After he took out the Ghost Mirror and Ghost Scissors, the rate at which the room brightened became noticeably faster, which he only then observed.

"Ghost Bride, summon the Ghost Cabinet."

Seeing the state of the room, Zhang Hao quickly retrieved the Ghost Mirror again, and also lifted the Ghost Scissors from the drawer.

Although he can feel the Red Room growing stronger, he cannot sense any sign of the bride manipulating the Red Room.

In other words, this simple completion only enhances the Red Room; the current Red Room has not yet been mastered by the bride.

If it continues to be strengthened like this, the Ghost Bride may eventually become part of the Red Room rather than mastering it.

Although the difference seems minor, both are completing the Puzzle, yet the practical difference is huge.

The new bride has now formed the concept of memory; once she becomes a subordinate of the Red Room, she will lose that concept and become a Puppet of the Red Room.

(End of Chapter)